Zack Bennett (Sound Designer) is blessed to return to Knoxville Theatre in his first production at River and Rail. Knoxville theatre goers may have previously seen Zack’s work at the Clarence Brown in production such as This is Our Youth, Around the World in 80 Days (Assoc.), and South Pacific (Assoc).  Other recent productions include Thoughts of a Colored Man (Assoc) on Broadway, A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie Theatre (Asst.), and True West (Asst.) at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Zack’s corporate Sound Designs include the 2022 National Order of the Arrow Conference at Thompson Bowling Arena and the 2017 BSA National Jamboree (Asst) at Indiana University’s Assembly Hall.  Zack is a proud graduate of The University of Tennessee (BA, 2017) and Purdue University (MFA, 2020). Zack would like to thank his wife Alex for her support throughout this and every production.

Don Chaffer (Composer/Lyricist) In addition to music theater work, Don is a producer/engineer/songwriter/recording artist in the band, Waterdeep, which he shares with his wife, Lori Chaffer. The Unusual Tale of Mary & Joseph’s Baby (with Chris Cragin Day) has had productions at FringeNYC Festival (NYC) and Theater 315 (NYC), in addition to this one with River & Rail, all in 2016. Other music theater credits include: The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers (musical with Lori Fischer) was produced at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany, NY, (2013) and Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, TN (2016); which was a Richard Rogers Award finalist (2012), and has been published by Samuel French (2016); Son of a Gun (musical with Chris Cragin Day and Lori Chaffer) was produced at the Beckett Theatre, NYC (2011), was a Richard Rogers Award finalist (2010), and a participant in the O’Neill National Music Theater Conference (2010), for which Don won the Georgia Bogardus Holof Lyricist award. The Hank Legacy, The Cash Legacy, and the upcoming Loretta Legacy (theatrical concerts with Matt Logan) were produced at Studio Tenn in Nashville, TN in 2013, 2015, and 2017, respectively. TV Music Credits include: Private Practice, One Tree Hill, The Client List, Beauty And The Beast, and Pretty Little Liars. Songwriting Awards include: ASCAP Awards (“Wicked Web”, & “What Life Would Be Like”), and Radio & Records Song of the Year (“You Are So Good To Me”). Don has a BA in music from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, lives with his wife and two children in Nashville, Tennessee. For more info: donchaffer.com.

Chris Cragin-Day (Book Writer) holds an MFA in Stage Directing from Baylor and a BA in Theater from OBU. She is an alumna of The Public Theater’s Emerging Writer’s Group (The River Nun, presented in the 2009 Spotlight Series) and the O’Neill National Music Theater Conference (Son of a Gun, co-writer Don Chaffer, workshopped and presented). Other recent NYC productions include The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph’s Baby (NYC Fringe, co-writer Don Chaffer), The Selfish Giant (co-writer Michael Castillejos), Son of a Gun (co-writers Don and Lori Chaffer), and Emily, produced by Firebone Theatre. Son of a Gun was also presented at Joe’s Pub and was a finalist for the Richard Rogers Award. Her play, Martin Luther on Trial, commissioned and produced by FPA, played at the Lansburgh Theater in DC summer 2016 and opens at The Pearl in NYC December 2016 and January 2017. Chris is an Assistant Professor of English and Theater at The King’s College NYC.

Chris McCreary (Associate Director) is a freelance artist and painter who has worked in theatre and film across the country including New York City, Los Angeles, and Dallas. Previous directing credits include “The Aliens” by Annie Baker, “Lear” by Young Jean Lee, and “Gruesome Playground Injuries” by Rajiv Joseph. Chris holds a BFA in Theatre Studies from Southern Methodist University, and an MFA in Directing from Brooklyn College. chris-mccreary.com / mccrearypaints.com

David Melton (Assistant Sound Designer) is an emerging sound designer and engineer living in Knoxville, Tennessee. He has recently graduated from Clemson University with a B.A. in Performing Arts, concentrating in Audio Technology. His passion for sound as an art form began with music, which has developed into composition and sound design for theater. His design credits include the Clemson Players’ productions of The Revolutionists, The Tempest, and Bright Star, and The Warehouse Theatre’s production of The Thanksgiving Play. David’s recent work has been in audio for video, working as the sound designer and editor for the Clemson Players’ digital productions of Love, 1918, and The Impostures of Scapin, as well as the short film “Germs”, produced by The Warehouse Theatre. He plans to build upon his current experience and grow as a storyteller by taking on an MFA in Sound Design in the near future.

Amelia Peterson (Props Designer) is a Knoxville native and a graduate of Bearden High School. She earned her BFA in Theatre Studies from Southern Methodist University. Prior to moving home to Knoxville, Amelia served as the Associate Artistic Director of Firebone Theatre (NYC) with her husband, Josh. While in New York, Amelia co-directed the world premier of Morbid Poetry at the Incubator Arts Project and a folktale adaptation series Long, Long Ago with Firebone Theatre Company. She has also directed new works for the CalArts Arts in the One World conference (Valencia, CA), the Kennedy Center’s Page to Stage Festival (Washington, DC), and the Inkwell Theatre’s Showcase Reading Series (Washington, DC).

Erin Reed (Costume Designer) is a costume designer, educator and technician based out of Knoxville, Tennessee. This is her third year designing Unusual Tale, and her fifth production with River & Rail Theatre Co. Her work can be found at: www.ereedcostumedesign.com

Danny Skinner (Director) Danny Skinner is a New York City based theater artist who has worked on Broadway, regionally, and everywhere in between. Proud union member. Black Lives Matter. Get vaccinated. Be kind. One out of every 3.8 residents of Knoxville lives in poverty. 41.6% of Black residents of Knoxville live below the poverty line. “We must talk about poverty, because people insulated by their own comfort lose sight of it.”- Dorothy Day

Savannah Smith (Production Stage Manager) is a Knoxville native who graduated from the University of Tennessee in 2017. She studied theatre and has since used her talents at The Clarence Brown Theatre, Disney World, Peninsula Players, and has now returned to River & Rail. In her spare time she travels and spends time with her dog. She is happy to be back in the theatre and can’t wait to see what comes next. Savannah would like to thank her family and friends for all of their love and support.

Jordan Vera (Lighting Designer) Originally from Miami, Florida, Jordan Vera resides in Knoxville after completing his MFA in Lighting Design at the University of Tennessee. He has had the opportunity to work for the Miami Summer Music Festival, the Clarence Brown Theatre, Oak Ridge Playhouse, Contemporary American Theatre Festival,  Flying Anvil Theatre, and North Carolina stage company. Some of his design work includes Detroit 67 (Clarence brown theatre), I and You (Flying Anvil Theatre), Marvelous Wonderettes (Oakridge playhouse), Stones in his pockets (North Carolina Stage Co.) Urine Town (Clarence brown theatre) and The Marriage of Figaro (Miami Music Festival). To see more of Jordan’s work, please visit his online theatre portfolio at www.JveraDesigns.com. Jordan is honored to be working alongside a talented group of artistic collaborators here at the River and Rail Theatre Company and is excited to present The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph’s Baby.

Adam Whipple (Band Conductor) has spent years on the road, honing and polishing his stage presence and songcraft, but he cut his teeth as a writer at the famed New City Café, Knoxville’s one-time home for creative musical expression that became a proving ground for artists like Andrew Peterson, David Wilcox, Derek Webb, Sandra McCracken, Among Savages (Peter Barbee), Ed Cash, and Jennifer Daniels. Fast forward fifteen years, and you’ll find Adam as a skilled multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and composer laboring to support numerous other artists in addition to doing his own personal work. His new full-length project, The Broken Seasons, is the product of a successful crowdfunding campaign and has already garnered critical acclaim. www.adamwhipple.com

Katy Wolfe (Music Director) has spent the past two decades teaching and performing. She is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and the Clarence Brown Theatre where she currently teachers voice to graduate and undergraduate acting students at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She also has private studios in Knoxville and New York City. She has clients working on and off Broadway, on major US Tours and on film and TV. Her experience ranges from musical theatre to professional opera to classical and pop concerts with professional orchestras.  Her commitment to free and organic vocal technique within all musical genres has given her a unique ability to help singers produce healthy and supported sound in any type of song. Her experience has led her to believe that musical style, vocal color, emotional intent, and even pitch range can all be available to the actor with healthy technique when driven by the understanding of the text and subtext.

Raiven Wright (Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be part of her second production with River & Rail Theatre Company. She holds a BFA in Theatre Administration from Howard University. Some of her favorite past production credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Antigone.

Jax Wright (Scenic Designer and Technical Director) is a scenic designer and technical director based in Knoxville, TN. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. There, he held titles such as scenic charge artist, scenic designer, and paint crew head. Jax continued his training for a year at the University of Southern Mississippi as a Scenic Design and Technology student as well as their paint shop supervisor and virtual theatre team lead. He has also worked with the Alliance Theatre as a scenic art intern and the French Woods Performing Arts Festival as the Stagecraft Department Head/ Head of Design where his team produced 55+ full scale theatrical shows. Currently, Jax is the technical director and an educator at the Knoxville Children’s Theatre. Jax’s website is jaxwright.net.

Vince Ilagan (Bass) is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. A musician with 20+ years of experience, he has performed with Scott Miller & The Commonwealth, Justin Townes Earle, Larkin Poe, Jill Andrews, The Tennessee Sheiks, WDVX’s Tennessee Shines House Band, The Lonetones, The Oak Ridge Symphony, Symphony of the Mountains, Circus No. 9, and many others. National performance highlights include appearances at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Suwanee Springfest, Pagosa Springs Bluegrass Festival, John Hartford Music Festival, The Cayamo Song-to-Sea Cruise, The Ryman Auditorium, and an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman. He has also performed internationally in Europe, Scandinavia, The Dominican Republic, Australia, and New Zealand. Vince endorses Gallien-Krueger Amplifiers and D’Addario Strings. He lives in Oak Ridge, TN with his wife, Bryn, and their two children.

Jay Smith’s (drums) first show was Gypsy at the Oak Ridge Playhouse when he was 14 and he has rarely stopped since. He has performed in countless shows at ORP, the Bijou, many area high schools, and for the past 14 years, all of the musicals at the Clarence Brown Theatre. The high point of all this musical theatre was most certainly Tommy- who wouldn’t want to be Keith Moon almost every night for a month?!? He has also played in numerous local bands over the years including the Tennessee Kingsnakes, Shaken Babies, the Jank, and Y’uns. When he’s not involved in music he spends his days selling houses, weekends out in the woods with Melony,
and generally trying to keep up with his two high school sons. J is thrilled to be making his debut at River and Rail!

Joshua Peterson (River & Rail Founding Artistic Director) is a Texas transplant via Paris and New York but is now proud to claim Knoxville as his home. Prior to moving to Knoxville, Joshua served as the Artistic Director of Firebone Theatre Company in New York City. Joshua received his MFA in Acting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He also holds a BA in Theatre from Oklahoma Baptist University. Between pursuing his degrees Joshua spent two years living and working for a humanitarian aide organization outside of Paris, France. He made his Knoxville acting debut in Clarence Brown Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. Other Selected Regional Acting credits include Measure for Measure and Much Ado About Nothing (Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival), Barry Love in House and Garden (Theatre Three), Gail in Our Lady of 121st Street (Kitchen Dog Theatre) and Jon in Tape (Dallas Theatre Center.)